ENTANGLED WITH MY EX-HUSBAND'S BROTHER

CHAPTER 4 - THE SECRET IS OUT

NATALIA'S POV

The hallway fell silent as soon as the words left my mouth.

"You're joking, right?" Wesley chuckled. "Look, you don't have to force it here."

His eyes darted over to Ciara and Robert who were still together and he turned his attention back to me.

"My brother has her wrapped around his fingers," He whispered in my ears. "I can offer you a better job at my company. You have a CV right?"

I sighed, placing a hand across his shoulder.

"After what Robert did to me, I never expected that there would be one reasonable Brooks left in the world," I said. "But you've proven me wrong already. I'm really grateful, but you've got to let me handle this."

Wesley nodded slowly and stepped aside for me. I walked up to Ciara and handed over the envelope in my hand to her.

"From Vincent Carson himself," I announced.

"How does a lowlife like you know Vincent Carson?" She scoffed.

I didn't say a word in response. Instead, I watched as Ciara tore the envelope open and brought out the letter. Her eyes skimmed through and I could see a hint of disbelief in her eyes.

"It has his seal," She muttered, handing it over to Robert.

He didn't even bother looking at it for a second. His lips curled into a mocking smile, and his eyes darted over to me.

“What is this, Natalia?” he asked.

"I think you should read through and see for yourself," I responded.

He chuckled and scanned the letter in his hands. His lips moved slightly as he read, his brow furrowing deeper. And then, without warning, he crumpled the letter in his fist.

“That’s a nice try, but I think you’re overestimating yourself,” he said, his voice filled with contempt. “How low are you willing to go just to prove a point? This -" he gestured to the letter, “is clearly fake. You should do a better job next time.”

My stomach churned, but I held my ground.

“It’s not fake. I can call him to verify.”

Robert snorted, shaking his head.

“Don’t bother,” he said dismissively. “I actually know Mr. Carson. He’s a busy man and he wouldn't have the time to respond to someone like you. I’ll call him myself.”

I watched, unfazed as he pulled out his phone and dialed. His smug expression stayed firmly in place, and I couldn't help but imagine how embarrassed he would be when he eventually found out that it was not a fake.

Robert’s voice was a little too loud, but I could hear his words clearly as he spoke into the phone.

“Mr. Carson? Yeah, I’ve got a situation here. It seems we have an impostor here, claiming to be the new CEO of Diamond. You might want to take a look at this—”

Wesley, who had been watching everything unfold, glanced across at me and sighed. He stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Natalia, I... I can still help you avoid any further embarrassment,” he said, his tone softer now. “You don’t have to do this. It’s not too late.”

I shook my head.

“No. I don’t want your help,” I said. "I know what I'm doing."

Wesley seemed to understand, and he sighed and stepped up to meet his brother.

"I think you've proven your point already," He snapped. "Calling him here isn't necessary."

"It is if she's a fraud," Robert chuckled. "That would get her a lengthy time behind bars, don't you think?"

Robert's eyes lit up for a moment.

"And you as her accomplice as well," He added.

We waited for a few more minutes. Robert had instructed the security to lock the gates so that I couldn't leave and now, in a confined space with the man I had once loved with all my heart, it felt so awkward.

Ciara, however had gone unusually quiet. Her eyes flicked from Robert to mine, and I could see the hesitation in her movements. She wasn’t as confident as she had been when I first walked in.

The next few minutes went on in silence. I could hear the sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears, but I refused to show any more emotion. No matter what happened, I had already made my decision. I was going to make them regret.

Less than thirty minutes later, the sound of a car pulling into the parking lot broke the silence. Robert, who had been muttering to himself, froze mid-step. He smiled with confidence and stepped forward.

The door to the building slid open and my father, Vincent Carson stepped in. His presence immediately commanded attention. The air was filled with tension as he entered, as if the very room recognized his authority.

He wasn’t dressed in a suit, but his confidence radiated from him in a way that made it clear he didn’t actually need a suit to establish his power. His dark eyes scanned the room until they locked with Robert's.

"You spoke about an intruder?" My father grunted.

"Of course." Robert was all smiles. "Some lowlife claiming to be the new CEO."

My father glanced around the building for a while and when his gaze rested on Robert again, he frowned.

"I didn't invest my fortune in your company for you to be my security guard," He spat out.

Robert froze. His eyes went wide with disbelief, and his mouth opened as if he was about to speak, but no words came out. I couldn’t help but watch him, enjoying the look of confusion and realization crossing his face. He was stunned as he had definitely not expected my father to lash out at him.

"I - I - " Robert stammered. "I heard she was making trouble over here and I stopped by to help."

"Now I don't think that's what happened here, Brooks," My father said.

He inched closer to Robert slowly.

"You ever wonder why I invested so much in your company?"

Robert was too stunned to speak and so, my father continued.

"She convinced me," He said. "My daughter was somehow able to convince me that you had some potential. I always knew she was wrong but hats off to you for making a public show to prove my point."

Beads of sweat had already started gathering around Robert's forehead. He looked rattled and his usual confidence had suddenly disappeared.

"Your daughter?" He mumbled. "It can't be. She's a Rivers."

My father ignored him, turning to face everyone in the room.

“Alright,” he said, his voice now commanding. “Listen up. All of you."

The room fell silent. The atmosphere in the office had shifted completely. There was no mistaking it now.

“I want you all to welcome the new CEO of Diamond,” He continued, his gaze sweeping over the room. “My very own daughter, Natalia Rivers Carson.”

And just like that, I was no longer the woman they thought they could push around. I was no longer the ex-wife of a man who had discarded me for a younger, shinier toy. I was someone else now. I was a force to be reckoned with.

I turned my attention to Robert and Ciara and a cold smile danced across my lips.

"I'd like to see you in my office, CEO," I whispered in Ciara's ears before turning to leave.